Setting Google as the default search engine in MS Edge in 1703 using GPO

In Windows 10 1703 we have some new really great new Group Policy settings for Microsoft Edge, the most important making it possible to sync favorites between Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. We can also set the default search enginge to something else than Bing with group policies.

Here is an .xml file that can be used to set the default search engine to Google instead of Bing using a group policy, it can be downloaded here: Opensearch.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<OpenSearchDescription xmlns="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/">

<ShortName>Google</ShortName>

<Description>Search Google</Description>

<Url method="get" type="text/html"

template="https://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}"/>

</OpenSearchDescription>

We then need to place that on a webserver reachable from the clients that use HTTPS, in my lab I put it on my SCCM server under Opensearch and called it opensearch.xml as well.

Then we configure the Group Policy setting to point to the .XML file we added above.

When logging on the a computer which the group policy is applied to, you can if you are fast enough see that the search engine changes from Bing to Google under Settings\advanced settings.

This can of course be used to change the search engine to something else than Google as well, just create an .xml file that points to that search engine instead and make sure it supports Opensearch 1.1.

Thanks to my colleague Sassan for testing and supplying the .XML file!

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment:*

Name:*

Email Address:*

Website:

My name is Jörgen Nilsson and I work as a Senior Consultant at Onevinn in Malmö, Sweden. This is my blog where I will share tips and stuff for my own and everyone elses use on Enterprise Mobility and Windows related topics.
All code is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties.